In Paulding County, 10,890 of us experience food insecurity. 17,858 of us are receiving SNAP benefits. 1 in 16 of us are living below the poverty line. These are statistics that likely remain unknown to the average person, but Lisa Gibson, owner and founder of the non-profit A Buddy’s Hope, has dedicated the past decade of her life to fixing them.
She’s been working in the community for over ten years, but she officially established A Buddy’s Hope in August of 2024, with the mission to help social workers fill the needs of those less fortunate within Paulding County School District, and to follow the motto “Hope for Better Tomorrows”. She helps meet the needs of students and families and fills private requests of those both in and outside of Paulding County. Just this past weekend, she helped PCSD and Paulding Family Connection run a backpack drive at Dobbins Middle School, where more than 1200 families were able to get backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year. She packs bags of food weekly for students who need it. She distributes clothing, including shirts, pants, shoes, socks, and underwear to families in need, and her actions make a real difference.
I sat down with her Thursday afternoon to have a discussion about her non-profit and the work she does in the community, and she gave me multiple success stories about how something as small as clothes that fit right have transformed the attitudes of the children she gives them to. She’s had conversations with students who are always looking forward to next week’s bag of food, and as a student at Paulding County High School, I have seen the difference personally that these food and clothing drives can make. Kim Cayetano, one of PCSD’s social workers, says that she is “instrumental in bridging the gap between the school, home, and the community”, and that she is a “community leader like no other”. It is near undeniable that the work that Mrs. Gibson does is integral to advocating for student needs, and ensuring that they’re met.However, Lisa can’t do it without your help. She is always accepting donations of non-perishable food, clean shirts and pants, as well as new socks, shoes and underwear. Your donations and Lisa’s actions are making a real impact in the community, and anyone can be a part of it. If you have a donation to make, or a request, Lisa can be contacted at 770-851-301, or at .

article/photo credit Eli Hand